I know a lot of academic libraries use LibGuides. If you were not already aware, Springshare, the maker of LibGuides, introduced a new "platform"/version for LibGuides in April 2014 known as LibGuides v2.
Has anyone migrated to the new version already? If so, are there any concerns with accessibility? Has anyone investigated or tested accessibility with screenreaders, etc.?
The reason I ask....
I attended a webinar yesterday discussing migration to LibGuides v2. Springshare has said that they are currently planning on supporting the older version (v1) at least through 2015. However, the presenter announced that a firm date has not been set, and Springshare is allowing libraries to migrate on their own timeframe.
I brought up the issue of accessibility to the presenter, Zinthia Briceno-Rosales. Zinthia said v2 had been reviewed "peripherally" and that further review was in the works. She also said that Springshare was planning on doing a review once per year. I explained that review needed to be a priority and recommended that a review be done more than once per year. She said she'd pass along my comments to the developers.
I will say that Springshare has been responsive to ADA issues in the past. My Disability Resource Center (DRC) on campus reviewed LibGuides for accessibility and made several recommendations for changes. Springshare was very responsive and implemented all of the changes. Zinthia, the presenter, said that Springshare was open to any suggestions that libraries had to improve accessibility.
I am planning on having my campus DRC review a LibGuides v2 site as a number of libraries have already implemented the new version. You can get a full list at this page:
http://libguides.com/community.php?m=i. To find all institutions, simply change "All Products" to "LibGuides v2."
If you have comments to share, please post them. As soon as I have a report from my DRC on v2, I will share it.
Thanks much,
John